Next we went to the bookstore. The gold-fish outside in the pond survived and had grown bigger, and Pippin, the bookshop dog, was happy to be back. We were blessed that we also didn't lose one single book out of 15,000 titles! In fact, when we returned, we found everything in the store in virtually the same place as we left it before Hurricane Katrina.

Q: How many employees did you have?
A: Two full time. One left a couple weeks before the hurricane and we believe he is now working in a bookstore in New York. One of my employees, Denise, lived in a house close to the river and canal and we don't know about her house, but she is okay. She left town and went to Mobile then on to Washington, D.C. Another employee, our Saturday gal, Dawn, lives in Lakeview and her house is or was under ten feet of water. She lost everything and went to Florida.

Q: Are you doing any business?
A: Yes, we are quite busy; almost a normal business day.

Q: What can we booksellers around the country do to help other booksellers who were hit hard in Katrina's angry path?
A: It is hard to know. I feel that a book store is an integral part of every neighborhood. We hope that all the book stores will be able to reopen. A lot of the booksellers don't know what to do right now and are still getting their bearings. Another interesting thing is that after 9-11 there was huge national interest in that disaster and everyone wanted more information about it, so new books came out. Now, new books will come about the Katrina disaster and about New Orleans. There are a number of authors already working on that; Tom Piazza and Jed Horn to name two. It is important to realize that New Orleans does matter to rest of the country. The music, the food, the history; this country's history would be a lot different if it were not for New Orleans. Octavia Books has always been a local center for the exchange of ideas in our community, and we are determined to continue as an essential part of the rebuilding of New Orleans.

Q: Thanks Tom and congratulations. How can folks reach you if they have questions?
A: To contact me call Octavia Books phone 504-899-7323 or email me at tom@octaviabooks.com.

Next month we will speak with one or two of the not-so-lucky ones.